Have you ever encountered a person who never seemed to stop bugging you with text messages, e-mails or phone calls? It could be a family member, a classmate or a colleague who keeps asking you for favors or questions, and because they never stop disturbing you with dozens of their messages, you finally respond and answer their queries. I imagined a similar scenario when I listened to one of the episodes from the Built on Rock Podcast of Tito Frank Padilla entitled Persistent Prayer.
In the episode, Tito Frank talked about two parables: first was the story of a persistent widow who pestered a dishonest judge, and the second was the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. But I would like to focus on the first which can be found in Luke 18:1-8
Then he [Jesus] told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.a He said, “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.” The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Jesus, through the parable taught about persistence and perseverance in prayer. As a missionary and a Christian, I understand the importance of prayer. But I also recognize the fact that prayer is not easy, even more praying with faith. But the podcast of Tito Frank reminded me to never grow tired of saying my prayers and communicating with God because He gives answers and He secures my right as I call to him day and night. If the widow was able to make the dishonest judge secure her request, what more can the Heavenly Father do for us. He loves us so much more than we know and care for ourselves. He is always willing to give us what is best for us and ultimately, that is the gift of Himself.
Through this episode, I also realized that praying persistently does not mean that when I pray intently, I will get all that I wish for. It is not about changing God’s mind so He gives me what I earnestly desire, but when I strive to humbly come before the Lord through persistent prayer I become more open to receive what God has prepared for me. I am thankful for this opportunity for my heart to be molded by God through prayer.
My final takeaway from this episode was the line from the parable “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8). It struck my heart in a special way. Tito Frank ended his brief reflection with this verse as if to inspire us to keep persevering in prayer so that when Jesus returns one day, He finds faith among us and He sees us persisting and enduring for the love of Him. Let us be like the persistent widow in the story who constantly calls and asks. Let us keep praying and seeking God’s will always and in all ways. For He always listens. He always does. Just keep praying.
You may visit Tito Frank Padilla’s Built on Rock Reflections through this link.
Ate Karen Penetrante is a Full Time Missionary at LCSC serving in the Live Life Pillar.
